CHROMUS BIO

CHROMUS: “A progressive-metal band presenting 12 epic tales orchestrated by mountains of rock guitars, luscious keyboards, huge drums & bass, and soaring vocals which remind you what great rock music is…. and always will be.”

There was a serendipitous quality to the beginning of CHROMUS…. While on vacation in Mexico, keyboardist Phil Davis heard his friend, Scott Karnas, sing in a Mazatlan bar accompanied by Phil on piano and Phil’s son, Max, on guitar. “Scott has never really sung for a real rock band before,” said Scott’s wife, Crystal. “But I’m telling you he can SING!” “WOW! Was she ever right!” says Phil. The next day, Phil & Scott met by the pool and ever so slowly, the wheels began to turn… and CHROMUS was born; right then, right there in downtown Mazatlan. The raw excitement and energy of Karnas’ voice is apparent right from the first track on the record, “Tales of Titans”, and it doesn’t let up from there. Scott was an awesome, raw & undiscovered talent, according to Phil. “Without him, the CHROMUS ship would have had no rudder.” But first, let’s circle back to an earlier time….
After getting out of college, Phil was signed to Columbia Records & CBS International with a Seattle band called Bighorn and toured behind the big CBS acts of the day (Boston, Van Halen, The J. Geils Band, Journey, et al.) After playing with Johnny Koonce (Johnny & the Distractions on A&M Records), and playing on and helping record Johnny’s second album in Hollywood (with Al Kooper producing), Phil returned home, only venturing out to play a brief stint with Alan White’s band (Yes’s drummer). Thereafter, Phil made a concerted effort to complete the construction of his new 24-track recording facility, BrickHouseStudio. As this years-long project was nearing its final completion, Phil wondered where all of this might lead….
Enter Mike Peterson: Mike had performed on drums with Phil in several local musical offerings. But Mike’s story really began with Aberdeen metal-heads JED. Many in the Aberdeen, WA music scene believe it was Mike’s awesome drumming which facilitated JED’s considerable success. Mike has also played for the Seattle Seahawks drum line, and for nearly every Western Washington band who needed a talented drummer, be it studio or live. Mike is always in-demand and is a rock mainstay in the Pacific Northwest region. Mike loved the concept of CHROMUS from the get-go and perhaps more importantly, loved Karnas’ vocal style as well.
Which leads us to CHROMUS’s ‘other vocalist’, Brian Cokeley. Brian has an impressive list of credentials which includes teaching at the LA Musicians Institute as a vocal instructor, performing & singing on 2 cd’s with the progressive rock band Presto Ballet (Inside Out Music and ProgRock Records), and being a multi-instrumentalist wizard in his own right. Brian plays many instruments including piano, guitar, bass, and drums. Great songwriter; wonderful player; outstanding singer…. and that high voice!
Next up is Max Davis: Max was truly the unexpected wild card in the CHROMUS deck. Only 18 years of age, Max brings his immense guitar sound and fascinating neo-classical prog-metal style to CHROMUS and definitely leaves his mark on the music. Having taken folk guitar lessons from the former mayor of South Bend, who could have imagined what he would grow into? Or what he would help CHROMUS grow into? “I’d have never believed we’d find this metal-meister sleeping just down the hall!” says Phil. “This was just way too cool!” Max’s first songwriting effort (“Rain”) is track #2 on CHROMUS…. Check it out!
Which brings us to Don Bird: Don plays bass, keyboards, guitar, sings and is one of the primary songwriters for CHROMUS. Don has a cool history starting with a career as a trumpet player with a diverse track record including performances with the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra as well as jazz gigs including a stint with the New Deal Rhythm Band. A multi-talented musician and studio artist, Don recorded, engineered and produced numerous radio and television spots and orchestral scores for industrial film productions while also mastering sound synthesis, sampling and early sequencing technologies that led to a stint with the inventor of the first digital drum machine, Roger Linn, and work on one of the first guitar-to-MIDI converters. He went on to develop and market revolutionary broadcast digital audio and video players as well as digital cinema systems for mastering and distribution. Don has performed in every musical style and idiom on bass, keyboards, synthesizers, horns and even some oddball invented sound sources, and has worked with several talented Seattle bands including Gabriel, Shots, and Ears, where he worked with Grammy Award Winning producer Paul Speer. He also recorded and produced an earlier album with Phil in a duo-project for A&M Records/Canada. Don has also worked extensively as FOH sound engineer, mixing for a number of reknowned acts including The Dave Crowder Band, Kendall Payne and Blyss (Lifehouse).
Last, but certainly not least, is Gordo Lynn…. In many respects, Gordo is a large part of the glue which holds CHROMUS together as a group. Gordo played with Phil in a great horn band (West Side of Chicago) performing on trombone & percussion as well as vocals. Gordo plays piano as well, and has an excellent ear for a part being ‘musically correct’ &/or ‘in tune’. He served as assistant engineer/producer to Phil, not only in the tracking & recording of the album, but in the mixing & mastering as well. Gordo also helps out scheduling studio performances, keeping master logs, tracksheets & diaries, and just about anything else that is needed around the studio. Oh, and last but certainly not least: Gordo Has Great Ears!